Study: Wikipedia Pretty Accurate, But Hard to Read

You might learn something on Wikipedia, if you don't fall asleep
first.

A new study finds the online, user-generated encyclopedia is
more accurate than some previous reports have suggested. But boy, is it
boring.

Researchers found that cancer information
on Wikipedia was similar in accuracy and depth to the information
on a professionally peer-reviewed, patient-oriented cancer web site,
the National Cancer Institute's Physician Data Query (PDQ). But the
latter was written in plainer English.

"There are a vast number of web sites where patients can obtain cancer information,"
said Yaacov Lawrence, assistant professor of Radiation Oncology at
Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. "The purpose
of this study was to answer one question: Is the cancer information on
Wikipedia correct? Reassuringly, we found that errors were extremely
rare on Wikipedia. But the way information was presented on PDQ is more
patient-friendly."

Lawrence and his colleague Malolan Rajagopalan at the University of
Pittsburgh picked 10 cancer types and selected key factual statements
for each cancer from standard oncology textbooks.

For both web sites, inaccuracies were rare, and less than 2 percent
of the information on either site was out of line with that presented
in the textbooks. There was no difference between the sites in depth of
coverage. Both sites poorly discussed controversial aspects of cancer
care. But whereas PDQ was written at a level suitable for a 9th grader,
Wikipedia was written at a level suitable for a college student. This
difference was highly statistically significant, the researchers said.

"PDQ's readability is doubtless due to the site's professional
editing, whereas Wikipedia's lack of readability may reflect its varied
origins and haphazard editing," Dr. Lawrence said. "Overall our results
are reassuring: on the one hand Wikipedia appears to be extremely
accurate, on the other, the resources invested in the creation and
upkeep of the PDQ are clearly justified."

For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.